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When talking about top tag teams over the last few years in British Wrestling one team that gets mentioned by many is DnD the former IPW:UK Tag Champs have had some great feuds over the years and now they have gone their separate ways we are finding out how talented both men are in singles action. Especially Danny Duggan who recently tore the house down in a one on one contest with The King Of Bros Matt Riddle. Even though he was unsuccessful after seeing this match it is clear he has a very bright future ahead of him and we got the chance to find out more about the very talented Danny Duggan.

UWR: Where are you from ?

Duggan: South West London

UWR: How old are you ?

Duggan: 26

UWR: Growing up were you a fan of Pro Wrestling ?

Duggan: Massively, but not until I was a little older. At first for me it was football I was obssessed until a friend brought over a copy of the latest Smackdown game (The first one) and when I learned what wrestlng was my obsession changed. I guess I’m just one of those people that can’t sit back and be a fan of something, if I am really in to something then I HAVE to do it no matter what.

UWR: Where did you train to become a Wrestler and who trained you ?

Duggan: I trained at the IPW:UK Fitness and Training School (@IPWUKtraining), where I was trained primarily by James Davis, one half of the London Riots. We’ve also benefitted from a wide range of guest sessions from guys like Jimmy Havoc, Zack Sabre Jr, Johnny Kidd, Steve Grey etc.

UWR: Who were some of your influences growing up ?

Duggan: Initially growing up I was a huge Triple H fan, everything about him was an aura. He was intense, could talk, could go, looked insane.

The more I got into wrestling and really when I started training to become one I fell in love with Puroresu (Japanese wrestling). Everything from the current products like New Japan Pro Wrestling all the way through to the golden years of Japanese wrestling in the 90s with All Japan Pro Wrestling. I think everything about it personifies realism, it’s intense and worked around traditional holds and strike then they manage to incorporate that with characters and stories that come from a real place around the passion to fight and determination to show your craft.

UWR: Are your family and friends supportive of your Pro Wrestling Career ?

Duggan: Absolutely. Are people really your friends if they don’t support your passions? I wouldn’t like to think so.

As for family of course, it took quite a lot of adjustment but the first time I got them down to see me for the first time I feel as if they uderstood it and they managed to step inside my world

Plus I have one of those mum’s that is proud of me no matter what, I could probably become a bank robber and she’d be proud.

UWR: I’m sure like every Wrestler you remember your first match. So who was in the match ? Did it go well ? And what do you remember most about it ?

Duggan: My first professional match was against The London Riots, so talk about thrown in to the deep end. Straight in there with easily the best tag team in Europe and the tag team that really put tag team wrestling back on the map in Britain.

It was everything you’d expect, rough and intense. Hard work to say the least but also gratifying and a great experience to be able to wrestle the best and test your skills so early in your career and see where you mark up. Allows you to plan your next steps.

Was also very validating to be so accepted by the fans against a really popular team

UWR: For people that have never seen You perform can you describe your character and wrestling style ?

Duggan: I feel my influences best define my style, and have generated a hybrid of what made me want to be a wrestler.

Fighting sprit and determination would best describe the kind of fire I bring to a fight and my mindset every time I enter the ring. I like to combine strong striking you would see in Japan with holds from British wrestling. But I also believe athleticism is important especially for my size, adds surprise to my offense and versatility.

So I wrestle with determination and a fighting spirit to be able to wrestle to the end. I like to pride myself on versatility

UWR: What is the best match you have ever seen.

Duggan: It’s tough not to bring up the recent second encounter between Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada, just phenomenal to be able to before 60 minutes straight at the magnitude they did.

UWR:What in your opinion is your best match or opponent you have ever had ?

Duggan: I just wrestled Matt Riddle, which for me has been a dream match for a while. Was insane to go one-on-one with someone of that caliber and see if I could go. He’s extremely good and on fire, so to be able to understand what someone like that is doing in the ring and feel that pace, as well get my arse handed to me. Was a great moment.

UWR: What is your proudest moment from your time in Pro Wrestling ?

Duggan: For me winning the IPW:UK Tag Team Championship for the first time. It was the complete circle and absolution. We’d started out rookies, security for the shows and got our big shot in the ring the first time with the London Riots, knew where we stood and knew the journey ahead was long. Over the year we worked ourselves to the bone, wrestling great opponents and winning the fans over every single night.

So to be able to come back a year later in that same position, strong and wiser with the fans behind us and capture the tag championships in the same venue in the same match as when we first started.

I’m very big on moments and I felt that was the perfect moment and really defined a story

UWR: Are there any wrestlers on the Indy scene you would like to wrestle that you have never wrestled before ?

Duggan: The UK is absolutely killing it right now, we’re really making waves worldwide and defining our style and showing we are the best in the world. That’s thanks to the workers we have in this country proving it night in and out.

I’ve been around 3 years and my list of opponents is still huge, I really haven’t had an opportunity to step in the ring with a lot of people I want to.

UWR:If you could choose any wrestler in history to have a match with who would it be ?

Duggan: Kenta Kobashi

UWR: Are there any goals you have set for yourself that you have not yet achieved ?

Duggan: Absolutely, my career goal is to wrestle in Japan as a permanent fixture. Always in my sights and always working on improving on skills and techniques that would stand out over there.

UWR: What advice would you give to anyone starting out in Wrestling ?

Duggan: Work. In wrestling nothing is better than working hard and working constantly. Train as often as you can and remember that the training isn’t confined to the school you go to, go to other schools, go to separate seminars. Watch wrestling, go to the gym and apply yourself to functional fitness to accommodate your wrestling needs.

UWR: Where can people see you perform next ?
Duggan: Battle Pro Wrestling – 4th August (@BattleProW)

Follow Danny Duggan on Twitter @DannyDugganPro and to book him it’s daniel.duggan@live.co.uk

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